Biguanide (BG)

Biguanide is the organic compound with the formula HN(C(NH)NH2)2. It is a colourless solid that dissolves in water to give highly basic solution. These solutions slowly hydrolyse to ammonia and urea. Biguanidine also refers to a class of drugs based upon the biguanidine molecule. Biguanides can function as oral antihyperglycemic drugs used for diabetes mellitus or prediabetes treatment. They are also used as antimalarial drugs.The disinfectant polyaminopropyl biguanide (PAPB) features biguanide functional groups. The most common side effect is diarrhea and dyspepsia, occurring in up to 30% of patients. The most important and serious side effect is lactic acidosis, therefore metformin is contraindicated in renal insufficiency. Renal functions should be assessed before starting metformin. Phenformin and buformin are more prone to cause acidosis than metformin; therefore they have been practically replaced by it.